Engineering topics

Bailey, W. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Bailey, W. J..

11 records

NASA NTRS1992

Cryogenic fluid management investigations using the CONE flight experiment

The Cryogenic Orbital Nitrogen Experiment (CONE) is a liquid nitrogen cryogenic storage and supply system demonstration placed in orbit by the National Space Transportation System (NSTS) Orbiter and operated as an in-bay payload whose objective is to demonstrate needed critical components and technologies. A conceptual approach has been developed by Martin Marietta under contract with the NASA Lewis Research Center and an overview of the CONE program is described which includes a definition of the background and scope of the technology objectives being investigated, a description of the payload design and operation, major features and rationale for the experiments being conducted and the justification for CONE relating to potential near-term benefits and risk mitigation for future systems.

Bailey, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

On-orbit low gravity cryogenic scientific investigations using the COLD-SAT Satellite

The Cryogenic On-Orbit Liquid Depot Storage, Acquisition and Transfer (COLD-SAT) Satellite is an experimental spacecraft designed to investigate the systems and technologies required for an efficient, effective, and reliable management of cryogenic fluids in reduced-gravity space environment. This paper defines the technology needs and the accompanying experimental three-month baseline mission of the COLD-SAT Satellite; describes the experiment subsystems, major features, and rationale for satisfying primary and secondary experimental requirements, using LH2 as the test fluid; and presents the conceptual design of the COLD-SAT spacecraft subsystems which support the on-orbit experiment.

Bailey, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Orbital fluid servicing and resupply operations

The capability to reservice spacecraft and satellites with expendable fluids will provide significant increases in the usability, operational efficiency and cost effectiveness of in-space systems. Initial resupply will be accomplished from the Orbiter cargo bay starting with monopropellant servicing which will eventually be extended to servicing of bipropellants and pressurants. Other fluids, such as freon, ammonia, methanol, superfluid helium, and liquid/gaseous nitrogen may also need to be resupplied once a space station becomes a reality. These fluids/gases are required for subsystem working fluid replacement and payload/experiment fluid replenishment. A logistics module operating on a 90 day schedule is planned for space station servicing. Resupplying hundreds of thousands of pounds of cryogenic propellants and reactants for users such as the Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) also represents future logistics challenges. Implementation of on-orbit fluid transfer requires solving many problems including fluid management in the low-g environment, system docking and interface mating, configuration of user friendly avionics to monitor and control the entire servicing operation, and minimized maintenance and enhanced reliability. Candidate fluid transfer methods and possible gas transfer methods are discussed, and preliminary storable monopropellant and bipropellant tanker designs are summarized.

Eberhardt, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Orbital spacecraft resupply technology

The resupplying of orbital spacecraft using the Space Shuttle, Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle, Orbital Transfer Vehicle or a depot supply at a Space Station is studied. The governing factor in fluid resupply designs is the system size with respect to fluid resupply quantities. Spacecraft propellant management for tankage via diaphragm or surface tension configurations is examined. The capabilities, operation, and application of adiabatic ullage compression, ullage exchange, vent/fill/repressurize, and drain/vent/no-vent fill/repressurize, which are proposed transfer methods for spacecraft utilizing tankage configurations, are described. Selection of the appropriate resupply method is dependent on the spacecraft design features. Hydrazine adiabatic compression/detonation, liquid-free vapor venting to prevent freezing, and a method for no-vent liquid filling are analyzed. Various procedures for accurate measurements of propellant mass in low gravity are evaluated; a system of flowmeters with a PVT system was selected as the pressurant solubility and quantity gaging technique. Monopropellant and bipropellant orbital spacecraft consumable resupply system tanks which resupply 3000 lb of hydrazine and 7000 lb of MMH/NTO to spacecraft on orbit are presented.

Eberhardt, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility

The Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility is a reusable test bed which is designed to be carried within the Shuttle cargo bay to investigate the systems and technologies associated with the efficient management of cryogens in space. Cryogenic fluid management consists of the systems and technologies for: (1) liquid storage and supply, including capillary acquisition/expulsion systems which provide single-phase liquid to the user system, (2) both passive and active thermal control systems, and (3) fluid transfer/resupply systems, including transfer lines and receiver tanks. The facility contains a storage and supply tank, a transfer line and a receiver tank, configured to provide low-g verification of fluid and thermal models of cryogenic storage and transfer processes. The facility will provide design data and criteria for future subcritical cryogenic storage and transfer system applications, such as Space Station life support, attitude control, power and fuel depot supply, resupply tankers, external tank (ET) propellant scavenging, and ground-based and space-based orbit transfer vehicles (OTV).

Eberhardt, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1985

LH2 on-orbit storage tank support trunnion design and verification

A detailed fatigue analysis was conducted to provide verification of the trunnion design in the reusable Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility for Shuttle flights and to assess the performance capability of the trunnion E-glass/S-glass epoxy composite material. Basic material property data at ambient and liquid hydrogen temperatures support the adequacy of the epoxy composite for seven-mission requirement. Testing of trunnions fabricated to the flight design has verified adequate strength and fatigue properties of the design to meet the requirements of seven Shuttle flights.

Bailey, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Fiberglass epoxy laminate fatigue properties at 300 and 20 K

A subcritical liquid hydrogen orbital storage and supply experiment is being designed for flight in the Space Shuttle cargo bay. The Cryogenic Fluid Management Experiment (CFME) includes a liquid hydrogen tank supported in a vacuum jacket by two fiberglass epoxy composite trunnion mounts. The ability of the CFME to last for the required seven missions depends primarily on the fatigue life of the composite trunnions at cryogenic temperatures. To verify the trunnion design and test the performance of the composite material, fatigue property data at 300 and 20 K were obtained for the specific E-glass fabric/S-glass unidirectional laminate that will be used for the CFME trunnions. The fatigue life of this laminate was greater at 20 K than at 300 K, and was satisfactory for the intended application.

Toth, J. M., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility

The Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility (CFMF) is a reusable test bed which is designed to be carried into space in the Shuttle cargo bay to investigate systems and technologies required to efficiently and effectively manage cryogens in space. The facility hardware is configured to provide low-g verification of fluid and thermal models of cryogenic storage, transfer concepts and processes. Significant design data and criteria for future subcritical cryogenic storage and transfer systems will be obtained. Future applications include space-based and ground-based orbit transfer vehicles (OTV), space station life support, attitude control, power and fuel depot supply, resupply tankers, external tank (ET) propellant scavenging, space-based weapon systems and space-based orbit maneuvering vehicles (OMV). This paper describes the facility and discusses the cryogenic fluid management technology to be investigated. A brief discussion of the integration issues involved in loading and transporting liquid hydrogen within the Shuttle cargo bay is also included.

Eberhardt, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Cryogenic Fluid Management Experiment (CFME) trunnion verification testing

The Cryogenic Fluid Management Experiment (CFME) was designed to characterize subcritical liquid hydrogen storage and expulsion in the low-g space environment. The CFME has now become the storage and supply tank for the Cryogenic Fluid Management Facility, which includes transfer line and receiver tanks, as well. The liquid hydrogen storage and supply vessel is supported within a vacuum jacket to two fiberglass/epoxy composite trunnions which were analyzed and designed. Analysis using the limited available data indicated the trunnion was the most fatigue critical component in the storage vessel. Before committing the complete storage tank assembly to environmental testing, an experimental assessment was performed to verify the capability of the trunnion design to withstand expected vibration and loading conditions. Three tasks were conducted to evaluate trunnion integrity. The first determined the fatigue properties of the trunnion composite laminate materials. Tests at both ambient and liquid hydrogen temperatures showed composite material fatigue properties far in excess of those expected. Next, an assessment of the adequacy of the trunnion designs was performed (based on the tested material properties).

Bailey, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Cryogenic fluid management experiment trunnion fatigue verification

A subcritical liquid hydrogen orbital storage and transfer experiment was designed for flight in the Shuttle cargo bay. The Cryogenic Fluid Management Experiment (CFME) includes a liquid hydrogen tank supported in a vacuum jacket by two fiberglass epoxy trunnion mounts. This composite material was selected for the trunnions since it provides desirable strength, weight and thermal characteristics for supporting cryogenic tankage. An experimental program was conducted to provide material property and fatigue data for S-glass epoxy composite materials at ambient and liquid hydrogen temperatures and to verify structural integrity of the CFME trunnion supports.

Bailey, W. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Cryogenic fluid management experiment

The cryogenic fluid management experiment (CFME), designed to characterize subcritical liquid hydrogen storage and expulsion in the low-q space environment, is discussed. The experiment utilizes a fine mesh screen fluid management device to accomplish gas-free liquid expulsion and a thermodynamic vent system to intercept heat leak and control tank pressure. The experiment design evolved from a single flight prototype to provision for a multimission (up to 7) capability. A detailed design of the CFME, a dynamic test article, and dedicated ground support equipment were generated. All materials and parts were identified, and components were selected and specifications prepared. Long lead titanium pressurant spheres and the flight tape recorder and ground reproduce unit were procured. Experiment integration with the shuttle orbiter, Spacelab, and KSC ground operations was coordinated with the appropriate NASA centers, and experiment interfaces were defined. Phase 1 ground and flight safety reviews were conducted. Costs were estimated for fabrication and assembly of the CFME, which will become the storage and supply tank for a cryogenic fluid management facility to investigate fluid management in space.

Eberhardt, R. N.↗